Posts Tagged: fun with paper

There always seems to be extra wrapping paper around during winter. Wondering what to do with it? How about you make yourself a crown! Or honor some king or queen in your life with a crown you’ve crafted just for them! These are easy and fun. Just download the template, print it on cardstock, gather your supplies, and you’re off! Cheers to your royal selves!

I left the extra paper at the top and bottom for a bigger crown. Feel free to adjust as your head sees fit! 🙂

Trace the template onto the back of the wrapping paper.

I had to do it twice to accommodate for my large noggin.

Here’s what it looks like finished. It’s not perfect, but that’s okay! Perfect is overrated.

Cut on the lines.

Cut out each triangle and save them for the top ball.

So it’ll look something like this.

Gather up those triangles and join them at the flat ends.

Like so. Keep holding that spot as you grab your hole-puncher.

Punch a hole in the middle of the flat ends and put the first brad fastener in with the end on the inside.

It’ll look something like this. Keep the end open – it will attach to the crown part!

Grab your hole puncher and punch a hole in each of the points.

Gather the punched holes together onto the second brad (with the end facing out this time), sliding one hole onto the brad at a time.

Close the brad on that top end and set the ball you just made aside.

Now on to the crown section! Fold the unfinished edge of the wrapping paper up (this will make a sturdier crown).

Tape along that entire edge (also contributes to the study factor).

Measure it for your head, and trim off the excess. Tape the bottom section together to form the circle that will go on your head.

Paper punch the middle of the flat side of each piece of the crown, just like you did with the pointed parts of the top ball.

Now pick up your ball top again. The bottom brad will attach to the crown! Slide each punched hole over the brad.

It’ll look like this from the top. Now it’s time to close the brad and finish up!

It’ll look like this from the bottom. Adjust the sections of the crown on the ball and the main part so it’s all arranged the way you like it, then make sure all the brads are nice and tight, and you’re done! Enjoy your crowns! Time for a tea party, perhaps!

*Sorry about a couple of out-of-focus one-handed pics! I hope you enjoy the fun!

1. Cut out the hat and beard.

2. Tip: Get your pieces of tape ready before you start! You’ll need six pieces total.

3. Bring the flat edges of the hat together and tape (the more even the bottom, the better).

4. Tape a spot at the bottom of the hat above where each ear will be (it will strengthen the area that is connected to the rubber band) and using your paper hole puncher, put holes through the tape

5. Take your beard and fold the tips (that will go toward your ears) and tape them down (I thought of this later, so this isn’t photographed very well, but again, it will strengthen the area that is connected to the rubber band).

6. Punch a hole in each beard tip through the tape.

7. Cut each rubber band once (you’ll then have two long pieces instead of two rubber bands).

8. Attach the bands to the beard by tying them, and to the hats with a staple (stapling the beard might hurt you, but the staple at the hat seems to make it stronger).

Remember the Kaleidoscope? This twisted little paper project operates by some of the same principles. Made up of a circular “chain” of pyramids, the kaleidocycle can be turned in on itself over and over again to produce cool optical effects! (Plus, the process of making one is kind of meditative.)

Before getting started, you’ll need to pick a template. Try coloring a Mandala kaleidocycle or, if you’re feeling extra spicy, you can design your own from scratch! Either way, it’s best to do all of the coloring before you start folding.